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“Out Late” is Time Out’s nightlife and party column by DJ, Whorechata founder, and Staff Writer Ian Kumamoto, which will publish every other Tuesday. The previous edition was about how The Bush is igniting a lesbian cultural renaissance.
Battle Hymn is one of those few era-defining parties that have survived enough waves of New York nightlife to coast in its own success. Started by club legend and nightlife mother Ladyfag in 2016, it’s a place that indulges in decadence, bringing together the increasingly rare breed of people who are down to rave Sunday till Monday, 9-to-5s be damned.
If you’ve never heard of it, Battle Hymn is what I can only describe as part Hell’s Kitchen circuit party, part Studio 54 derivative; while most of the crowd consists of brolic men who have boycotted their shirts, there’s also also a notable presence of club kids and freaks who have been going out in the city since the ’90s—This past Sunday, I spotted Kevin Aviance, and a cast of celebrities I don’t want to put on blast. And, unlike a lot of other circuit parties, it felt refreshingly, authentically judgement-free.
But like any club night that is worth going to these days, you have to get through a door person that more or less gauges your vibe—they’re responsible for rooting out anyone trying to have a good time from someone who might just stand there and throw off the energy for everyone else. In Battle Hymn’s case, that gatekeeper is Markus Kelle, who has been doing Battle Hymn’s doors since the party began.
Sometimes he can be biting because people are drunk, or on drugs. You need someone with a clear head who can understand what you need in a space.
Being a door person in a place like New York takes a lot of discernment, and in many ways, they’re the first line of defense for making sure a party is a success. Matthew Placek, who also hires Kelle for his event Wet Noise, summarizes Kelle’s talent for being a vibe curator: “I need people to be a little bit afraid, because it’s a matter of protecting a safe space for (queer) people,” he tells Time Out New York. “Sometimes he can be biting because people are drunk, or on drugs. You need someone with a clear head who can understand what you need in a space.”
When I met him, Kelle was fashionable, hilarious and lionizing. He also doesn’t just do it for the money, and actually has a day job as a publicist and is currently starring in Mr. Black's Holiday campaign—he actually, genuinely just loves people, and that’s what gets him off.
This past Sunday, I attended my first Battle Hymn, where almost everyone I met had to work the next day and planned to sleep two hours, half an hour, or not at all. The vibes were festive and the lineup, which included Eli Escobar and The Carry Nation, couldn’t have been juicier. At one point in the night, I danced next to Ladyfag, who I poked to introduce myself and told her I’d written an article about her music festival last summer. “Oh, yea I remember!” She said, before handing me two drink tickets. I ended up staying till closing.
But Battle Hymn’s success can be attributed to the fact that they protect their crowd extraordinarily well. I spoke with Kelle about how he became a door person, what to do to increase your chances of getting through the door, and what he sees for the future of New York nightlife.
First off, do you have a routine before you work a door?
I always check the weather, plan my outfit in advance, take a disco nap, a long bath and heavily caffeinate myself before a long night.
What does someone need to do to get on your good side?
It’s all about energy. Come with a positive attitude, come with a really good look, or come with a joke at the door.
What does it take for someone to be turned away?
Having an entitlement issue. Or telling a lie because I’m a physiognomist. I know when a lie is being told.
What does it take to cut the line?
You have to turn a really fierce look, know somebody or just be effervescent and fun. I can tell that someone is going to contribute to a party from 20 paces away on a dark night.
How did you become a door person for Battle Hymn?
I moved to New York to go to college and as I was graduating, the economy fucking sucked, so I pivoted into nightlife. I was doing the door for Ladyfag at Holy Mountain, and that’s how I was brought into Battle Hymn.
What makes Battle Hymn special to you?
It’s such a community thing, but it’s done at a larger scale. We average between 800 and 1,000 people—and that’s a lot of people. It’s become an institution and it’s so engrained in the public vernacular, it’s a destination in New York. We get the really fun tourists who have heard about us word of mouth and that’s really interesting. There is also this element of fashion.
Speaking of fashion, is that something you consider when deciding who to let in?
First and foremost, I am a fashion fan. As jaded as I am and as long as I’ve been around, there’s something really exciting about the veracity of fashion at nightclubs. I didn’t move to New York to see jeans and T-shirts. Anyone going out should always be looking to add to the room and not detract, and looking great is part of that. You want to be loud, and I’m not talking about it has to be a designer outfit, that’s neither here nor there. Just be interesting and colorful. In a lot of places, people try to look the same but in New York it’s not like that, we really pride ourselves on being characters and dressing for ourselves and I think that’s what’s exciting.
I imagine it would be very difficult to be discerning about other people if you haven’t arrived at yourself.
What makes a good door person, in your opinion?
You have to somewhat like people. You have to be an extrovert. To me, it’s been fun because it’s performative. A little style goes a long way. You have to be sure of yourself. I imagine it would be very difficult to be discerning about other people if you haven’t arrived at yourself.
What makes you passionate about nightlife and where do you think it’s going?
The exciting thing about nightlife is that it’s so non-linear. There’s definitely a pantheon of queer characters in New York that are omni-present—you can always expect something really cool from Ladyfag and we’re so fortunate we have people like Amanda Lepore. I think we’re going to see things continue to move to the outer boroughs. I also think it’s really cool to see the resurgence of house parties. As I’m getting older, it’s important for me to curate relationships I have with people and it’s definitely easier making meaningful connections offsite. It doesn’t always have to come down to the club.
